The hearse carrying the body of Mario Jimenez drives past his restaurant Mario's Tacos after the funeral service at St. Hillary's Catholic Church in Pico Rivera on Tuesday October 15, 2013. Jimenez who had been an active member of the community and hosted their free Thanksgiving dinners, died Wednesday October 8th after a long battle with cancer. (Whittier Daily News/Staff Photo by Keith Durflinger)

Community members express their condolences with Celia Jimenez during the funeral service for her husband, Mario Jimenez, owner of Mario's Taco's, at St. Hillary's Catholic Church in Pico Rivera on Tuesday October 15, 2013. Jimenez who had been an active member of the community and hosted their free Thanksgiving dinners, died Wednesday October 8th after a long battle with cancer. (Whittier Daily News/Staff Photo by Keith Durflinger)

PICO RIVERA >> Mario Jimenez,an immigrant who rubbed elbows with several U.S. presidents, ate at the White House, and owned a successful business, was remembered Tuesday as a loving family man and loyal friend.

He died Oct. 9 after a decade-long battle with cancer. He was 72.

A close-to-capacity crowd of mourners, including Sheriff Lee Baca, Pico Rivera Councilman Bob Archuleta, and several past and present members of the sheriff’s Pico Rivera Station, gathered inside St. Hilary Church of Perpetual Adoration for the funeral Mass of the owner of Mario’s Tacos, a favorite eatery in Pico Rivera for more than four decades.

“He became a friend to many,” said eulogist Gil Carrillo,a retired Los Angeles County sheriff’s lieutenant who befriended Jimenez while growing up in Pico Rivera.

He told the story of Jimenez’s humble beginnings as an immigrant from Mexico to a man who met each president from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush, and even Gerald Ford.

Irenero Mario Jimenez was born July 3, 1941, in Huitzuco, Guerrero, Mexico.

Many nights, Carrillo said, the young Jimenez went to bed hungry.

During that time, he promised God if he would help him, Jimenez would make sure no one he knew would ever go hungry.

And for the past 29 years, he and his wife, Celia, whom he married on Sept. 25, 1964, served free dinners on Thanksgiving to those who could not afford to do so on their own.

“All he had was $3, just enough for dinner at Burger King,” Carrillo said.

Aside from his marriage and the five children they had together, his most prideful moment was when he became a U.S. citizen.

“Imagine if immigration would have stopped him today and asked what are you going to do in this country?” Carrillo asked.

“Mario would have answered that he was going to work hard to fulfill the promise he made to the Lord Jesus Christ to feed those who are hungry,” he continued.

“They would have laughed at him and called him a dreamer,” Carrillo said regarding Jimenez answering what he would do in the United States.

“Thank the good Lord to have allowed Mario to fulfill his dreams.”

Speaking of a recent visit to a hospitalized Jimenez, Carrillo thanked his longtime friend for teaching him the importance of friendship.

“He raised his left hand, and said, ‘that indeed, is the most important thing,’ ” a visibly moved Carrillo said.

Pastor Joshua Lee called Jimenez “a cornerstone of the community.”

The Jimenez family was honored in 1988 as the Hispanic Family of the Year by President Ronald Reagan.

“He provided support, nourishment and hope to those around him,” Lee said.

“Some say Christianity has failed,” he commented. “It has not failed, but has not been practiced. Mario truly lived a Christian life.”

Jimenez is survived by his wife of 49 years, Celia; sons, Mario Jr. and David; daughters, Mary, Martha and Norma; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

The family issued a statement about the outpouring of support they have received from the community.

“We are truly grateful and plan to continue his legacy and his commitment to the community. May God bless you.”

Sandra Molina is a native Southern Californian, the oldest of three children raised by a single mom who named her after Dodgers great Sandy Koufax. She grew up in Monterey Park, but was schooled in Tarzana, through busing, and East Los Angeles. She is a proud alumna of Garfield High School in East Los Angeles; Rio Hondo College in Whittier; and Cal State University at Long Beach, where she earned a BA degree in English Literature. She began a career as a freelance writer and photographer in the San Gabriel Valley in 1997, in addition to being a writer/photographer for GoGirlsMusic.com as its Los Angeles correspondent. She has been a reporter with the San Gabriel Valley News Group since 2007 writing features, breaking news, entertainment, sports and crime. Outside of the newsroom, she enjoys music, reading, going to the beach and spending time with family and friends.

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